" Vivi, you're telling me to hand over the Heavenly Tribute? You're really not joking?"
Cobra's expression stiffened, and he couldn't help but clench the Den Den Mushi in his hand.
Alabasta is beset by internal and external troubles, which have already emptied its national treasury.
This time, I barely managed to gather enough Heavenly Tribute.
If it were given to Shichibukai nothing.
If this news reaches the World Government, the Alabasta Kingdom will likely lose even its last chance of protection.
"Father, I'm not joking. Please believe me this once, I'll explain everything properly!"
Vivi quickly explained.
Cobra fell silent, watching the large group desperately escorting Heavenly Tribute to the dock, and the few figures following closely behind. Finally, a resolute glint flashed deep in his eyes.
"Everyone, abandon the Heavenly Tribute and retreat immediately!"
give up?
The guards escorting them immediately changed their expressions.
However, seeing Cobra turn away with a resolute expression, they gritted their teeth, abandoned the dozens of boxes of jewels, and quickly followed.
A few minutes later, a gloomy-faced figure arrived with dozens of members of the Baroque Works.
I was momentarily stunned as I looked at the discarded jewelry scattered all over the ground.
"Mr. 1, what's going on? They were just putting up a fierce resistance, and now they've just dumped all this treasure here. They must be terrified of you, Mr. 1."
"Yes, yes, Mr. 1 is Paramecia Devil Fruit User, and he firmly holds the title of the strongest in Baroque Works."
"With Mr. 1 taking the lead, this kind of mission is a piece of cake."
"..."
Flattery followed one after another.
Daz Bonez didn't speak, but stood there with a sullen face, staring intently at the abandoned Heavenly Tribute for a while before turning and leaving.
"Take all these things back to Rainbase; don't leave this place for now."
The bizarre scene left Daz Bonez somewhat puzzled.
The treasure they had been desperately protecting was abandoned halfway through.
This made Daz Bonez feel like he had fallen into a trap.
However, after much deliberation, Daz Bonez could not think of anyone in Alabasta who could pose a threat to Baroque Works.
They even brought down Alabasta, a country with a permanent military presence of 600,000.
Not to mention the small fry in the first half of the Grand Line.
However, thinking is one thing, doing is another. Faced with Cobra's sudden change of heart, Daz Bonez still decided to report the matter.
Meanwhile, outside the Marine Branch.
Bai Yu's eyes snapped open, and he smiled bloodthirstyly.
"Found it. It's thirty miles to the east. It seems the Baroque Works has already taken over the Heavenly Tribute."
"I really hope that the last contact is Crocodile."
"In the first half of the Grand Line, he's a decent target to cut down."
Several days later, Bai Yu continued to practice his slashing techniques every day.
However, the current Main Body Template is still 0.1% away from 35%.
This snail-paced improvement left Bai Yu feeling helpless.
Indeed, if happiness is built on the suffering of others, one will also be very happy.
"Thirty li to the east?"
"You were able to find that out?"
Vivi's expression froze for a moment, and she looked towards the east.
No matter how closely she looked, all she could see was a vast expanse of yellow sand; she couldn't spot Cobra and the others at all.
"Heh, if you couldn't even do something like this, you wouldn't have staked your last bet on our captain. Don't forget, our captain is the newly appointed Fourth Admiral in the navy."
Nami smiled smugly, her beautiful eyes already replaced by Beli's, and rubbed her hands together hastily.
"Captain, do you think there might be any unexpected events or losses if we go after the Heavenly Tribute later...?"
"Loss?"
Bai Yu took a swig of liquor.
"If a fight breaks out and there are any losses, just blame it on the Shichibukai. Missions are unpredictable."
"It's getting late, we should get going. If we lose the Heavenly Tribute too, it won't be good to openly beat Crocodile up."
"Captain, what do you think about getting rid of it? Ten or twenty million Beli would be alright?"
" Nami, your vision has become so short-sighted. Shichibukai should be worth at least a hundred million or two..."
Watching Bai Yu lead his troops away, Vivi, Igaram, and the others felt utterly bewildered.
One of them was trying to find an excuse to kill the Shichibukai.
One of them, wanting to make some money, pinned it on the Shichibukai.
Is the Marine Headquarters truly allied with the Shichibukai?
Everything changed after we got this Fourth Admiral.
" Princess Vivi, are we on a pirate ship?"
Chaka couldn't help but ask.
Vivi shook her head with a bitter expression.
"I don't know either, but our identities have been exposed, and the kingdom is in disarray. If we don't trust him, who can we trust..."
Igaram and Chaka fell silent for a moment.
On this vast ocean, the Navy, the World Government, and the pirates call the shots.
Alabasta is indeed a superpower.
Unfortunately, weak nations have no diplomacy.
Against ordinary pirates, they might be able to protect themselves.
Like Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, who possesses a Logia-type Devil Fruit ability.
At best, the army is just cannon fodder...
This is perhaps the tragedy of a weak nation.
Unless, of course, their Alabasta soldiers become as powerful as their navy.
Otherwise, it's all nonsense.
Most of the day later, Rainbase.
This is Alabasta, the most prosperous town besides the capital.
Under the management of Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, this place has long since become the biggest den of iniquity.
Amidst the endless stream of people, Bai Yu and his companions came into view.
The magnificent buildings contrasted sharply with the dilapidated state of the surrounding area.
" Captain Bai Yu, it seems that Crocodile's crimes are far greater than those of Arlong!"
Carina, carrying a sniper rifle, said with a frown.
"However, with so many people here, finding Crocodile and the Heavenly Tribute might be quite difficult, wouldn't it?"
The fact that it was used as a stronghold by the Shichibukai suggests that the place where they were hiding must be extraordinary in the eyes of Carina and the others.
However, this was clearly not a problem for Bai Yu, who was a reincarnated person.
Bai Yu is only concerned with whether there is enough evidence to beat Crocodile up.
"Don't worry, I've found it. I'll head out first; you can handle the rest of the mess."
After saying these words, Bai Yu disappeared from the spot.
By the time everyone realized what had happened, they could only vaguely sense the direction Bai Yu had left using their Observation Haki.
Zoro secretly gripped his sword tighter.
As expected, even though they both Awakening their Haki, there was still a huge gap between them.